A former small business owner, Jeanne Shaheen believes every Granite Stater should be able to get the resources and training needed to get a good job and succeed in today’s economy. As Governor, she helped New Hampshire businesses create nearly 67,000 jobs, lowered electricity rates for small businesses and consumers, and she created a job training fund to help train workers in new, high-tech skills. She was the first New Hampshire Governor to personally lead overseas trade missions to bring more investment and jobs to the state. Her efforts made a big difference to the state’s economy and international trade continues to benefit New Hampshire today.

Her leadership on small business issues was recognized when Jeanne was named as one of four Senators charged with developing the small business relief in the COVID-19 economic stimulus bill. Jeanne was instrumental in negotiating a significant increase in funding for small business relief. She was praised by Republicans and Democrats for her bipartisan efforts creating the emergency small business program, which is providing nearly $660 billion in aid to help small businesses stay afloat and keep their employees paid.

As a senior member of the Small Business Committee, Jeanne worked to expand Small Business Administration loan programs and led bipartisan efforts to support innovation and research by small businesses, helping businesses export their products abroad and making it easier for entrepreneurs to cut through red tape and start businesses. Jeanne continues to fight against tax cuts that disproportionately hurt small businesses, including the elimination of the online sales tax.

Jeanne knows connecting workers with good-paying jobs is a challenge, so she is taking action to expand technical and vocational training and apprenticeship programs, and increase grant funding for community colleges. She was instrumental in securing funding to open the Manchester Job Corps Center, which provides low-income youth job and skills training. A strong proponent of union rights, paid family and medical leave, and an increased federal minimum wage, Jeanne believes that everyone in New Hampshire should be able to get the skills and education needed to get a good-paying job.